Former national footballer Niklas Süle has announced his retirement from the sport that currently concludes his professional career in the summer. The 30-year-old defender shared the news with Sky Sport on Thursday. Given that his contract with Borussia Dortmund expires in the summer, his last official matches will be played during the concluding two weekends of the Bundesliga season.
The decision to hang up his boots came after a compounding knee injury he sustained in April while playing against TSG Hoffenheim. Although doctors were unable to confirm a torn cruciate ligament, Süle realized that he was no longer willing to risk the possibility of a third such injury. Throughout his playing career, he had previously suffered two ligament tears-one at Hoffenheim and another while with FC Bayern Munich.
Süle, who earned 49 caps for the German national team, has played for Borussia Dortmund since 2022. Earlier in his career, he was a key player for FC Bayern, where he secured five championship titles and two DFB Cup wins. His notable achievements also include winning an Olympic silver medal in 2016 and a Champions League title in 2020. While he had previously mused about retiring around 2025, the decision has now become definitive.
